Musharraf also vowed to take the oath of office for another term as a civilian President, hanging up his military uniform after the Supreme Court gives its verdict on his October 6 Presidential victory.

The polls would be held simultaneously to the national and four provincial assemblies in the week preceding January 9 and the exact date would be decided by the Election Commission, Musharraf said nine days after he imposed emergency.

Dissolving Assembly

The National Assembly would be dissolved on November 15 when it completes its term while the provincial assemblies, whose tenures would end on different dates in November and December, would be dissolved on November 20, the military ruler told a crowded press conference in the Aiwan-e-Sadr or presidency here.

Caretaker governments would be formed in the three provinces of Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan by November 20. The North West Frontier Province already has a caretaker set-up as the provincial government resigned last month.

Musharraf also said he would take oath as a “civilian president” when the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to formally notify the result of the October 6 presidential election.

“I hope that happens as soon as possible,” he said. The president said he was addressing the press conference to dismiss “aspirations, rumours and speculation about my intentions”.